Local Face: Charles Chaney

Charles Chaney who owns and runs Wendover Countrywear moved to Wendover from Chesham 16 years ago. He and his wife Pam bought ‘The Crossings’ in Aylesbury Road, a bungalow built on the old Wendover-Halton railway line after it closed in 1965. It was extended over the years and in 1997 the long garden was sold to Banner Homes for the Castle Park development. Charles restructured the garden and installed a new kitchen and bathroom before selling it to a housing association in December 2000. It is currently being refitted to house a disabled family.

The Chaney interest in Wendover started while the family lived in Chesham. They would eat at the Red Lion and walk in Wendover Woods. Over the years grew to know and like Wendover enough to move from Chesham where they had lived for 30 years. They have a son and a daughter both married with children living in Surrey.

By profession Charles is a Chartered Marketer starting his working life in advertising agencies in London. He moved from the service side to join GEC Radio & TV who were situated in Langley Park Slough. He was appointed their Group Publicity Manager before leaving to join Thorn EMI in a similar role. Famous old television names like Ferguson, Ultra, Pilot, Marconiphone were all promoted and marketed by Charles. He was appointed Marketing Manager after 10 years with the company, which then closed following the Japanese invasion.

Charles decided the time was right to work for himself and set up as a senior Marketing Consultant. He joined the Institute of Marketing and was elected Chairman of their Royal Counties Branch. He was elected onto the council of the Institute and became Southern Regional Chairman. He was appointed a Chartered Marketer in 1998/9.

During this time Charles was keen on helping the Community. He ran a boys football team for 14 years whilst in Chesham and joined the Rotary Club. He was elected as an Urban District Councillor of Chesham and was President of the Chamber of Trade and Commerce. Having moved to Wendover he changed his Rotary Club to Aylesbury Hundreds and looked to see where he could help in his new local community.

Macmillan Cancer Relief were about to launch the Buckinghamshire Appeal to raise money to install two Macmillan Nurses into Stoke Mandeville Hospital. Charles’ wife, Pam, had been involved with the Chesham/ Amersham Committee in the past where he had helped raise money. He chaired the appeal committee and with help from the community spread over Wendover, Aylesbury, Princess Risborough, Buckingham, Winslow, Chesham, Amersham, Wycombe raised £260,000. The nurses are in post at Stoke Mandeville. He continues to chair the Aylesbury, Wendover & District Committee.

He is now in his sixth year at the Rotary Club of Aylesbury Hundreds having served as Chairman of The International Committee when he encouraged the Residents of Wendover and Aylesbury to contribute toys, clothing and medical equipment to send to the children of Chernobyl who were suffering from major radiation problems due to the explosion of the nuclear power station. A lorry was driven out to the area and the goods distributed to hospitals, orphanages and schools. The Rotary Club and Three Shires Ambulances are still trying to make available an ambulance which members of the Club will drive to Chernobyl.

On the first of July this year Charles was appointed President of The Club. He will serve for a year during which time he will adopt a hands on approach to helping those in need in the community. Wendover Health Centre are in need of a Defibrillator and the club has agreed to contribute towards its purchase. The Aylesbury Vale Primary Care Trust are to set up a Home Start Scheme The Club has agreed to help establish the new headquarters with help towards decoration and office equipment. A number of other help schemes including The Aylesbury Hospice and Stoke Mandeville’s John Hampden Unit are under consideration.

Charles’ other interests include being a Governor of Aylesbury College, A board Member of the Chartered Institute of Marketing’s Benevolent Fund and Chairman of the recently formed Friends of Calibre the Aylesbury based listening tapes for the visually impaired.